Box or crate structure



De 1, 1931- w. G. sEABoLD, sR

BOX OR CRATE STRUCTURE L y a M d e 1 .l F

Patented Dec.v 1, 1931 UNETED STATES WALTER G.' SEABOLD; sn., oFAL'roN, ILLINOIS Ynox on. CRATE. STRUCTURE Applicaties mea may 14V, 1930. serial No. 452,301.

The present invention relates lto boxes, crates, enclosures andthe like, havmgparticular reference to a knockLdovvn structure,

. which maybe provided in units of parts 'for PPT assembly into a rigid structure.

The invent-ion aims to provide a structure which can be made economically and sold, transported and stored in knock-downpform, for assembly without the use of a tool that operation. It is a particular object'to provide a series of simpleunitsthat may ber quickly assembled into a rigid compact box.

Such an assembled box may be packed, as

in a shipping room ofa department store, and sealed for shipment, by inexperienced help Without fthe' use of a tool,v without pounding, without effort, and rapidly without any waste of time. f Y j,

v Another feature of theinventionisfthe provision of sides` or panels separate from the bottom and top of the box,f whereby various heights yand kinds ofpanels, `and of'tops and bottoms maybeasseinbled to provide different siZes and different `kindsfof structures as the circumstancesmay require.

Another feature of the box is tliefa'ct that it may be made of wood, using thin and small pieces to build up parts for the structure, by rapid methods of j production, .n making the structure economically practical, with the use of standard wood mill equipment.- It is therefore a particular object to4 provide a wooden-box.- w f Various other robjects and advantages 'of the invention will be apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiL ment thereof shown inthe accompanying drawings, in which i f l n i Fig. 1 represents a vertical cross-section of a box on line 1 1 of Fig. 2. j

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section taken on line 2-2of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the cover from the underside, as it lwould appear lifted from the position in Fig. 1. f"

Fig. 34- is a perspective vi'ewof bottom with the sides removed.

Fig. 5 `is a View of the outsideof long side panel.

'the box Fig' 6 is aview of the outside of a short side panel, or the front panels of Fig. 2.

- Fig. 7 is a view of the inside of a short side panel', on the rear panel of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a view of the inside of a long panel.

Fig. 9 is an lenlarged detail view of a top cornerl of the assembled panels showing a locking means. v

Although I have hereinafter disclosed andi specifically described ka wooden box of the Aco closed type it is to be understood that the invention is not thus limited to a closed box, nor to any specicmaterial, nor structure, and that various modifications and changes in construction are herein contemplated, as

will fall within the scope of the invention as itis expressed in the appended claims.

i The illustrative box ofthe drawings has a base 10 in the form of a closed area made up ofthin wood-stock pieced together and secured to base skids'or cleats 11 and 12, as by nails or other means known to the zart.

ject beyond the edges 13 and 14 of the base 10. At the edges Vof theprojecting cleats, upright-horizontal rails 15 and 16 are secured, each of which has an internal recess 17 there# in forming on -the sides an inwardly projectp ing hook-like structure with a retaining rib 18. The ends of cleats 11 and 12 project beyond the base 10 as dov the sides of the cleats. The ends are indicated in Fig. 2 at 19 and 20.k Across ends 19 and 2O are secured other recessed rails 21 and 21a, like rails 15 and 16, the four latter rails forming a rectangular frame enclosure, shown in Fig. 4. ithin the frame there is thus formed a rectangular channel or recess by the individual recesses 17 in the four rails. Within the frame opposite the recess sets the base 10, above the bottom level of the recess.

It will also be noted that the inside of rib the outside vparallel edge of the base 10, by a width suflicient to form .a thickness for a box wallv or side, and that the rib 18 is elevated It will be noted that the'cleats 11 and y12 pro# L ;Y

above the bottom 10 to permit insertion of a panel, as will appear hereinafter. U j

The'box walls or sides are made in remov-k ico e able units or panels, which are shown as closed areas for a closed box, or which may be open for a crate. Two long panels and two short panels are provided, for the rectangular box illustrated. The short ones lit between the long ones and hold them apart in spaced relation. Each panel is provided with a structure which cooperates with .a rib 18, recess 17, and an edge of base 10 to hold the panel iinmovably fixed vertically and horizontally. The two long panels Vare identical and interchangeable, and the two short panels have .a

similar relation. Fig. 5 shows thesoute'r side of a long panel 22, and. Fig. 8 represents a view of the inner side. rlhe outer side has a cross strip 23 at the bottom which itsinto -recessv 17. lt is slightly rounded or bevelled at` the corners 24 and 25 to permit thepanel to ybe inserted angularly into position by a planar movement as shown by the Ydotted line position 26 in Fig. l, from which angular position it may be swung into final position. The strip in the recess acts as a sort of' pivotal axis for the swinging and the parts cooperate to eaizect positive engagement.. The topv of' the panel has a crossstrip 27 which is longer than the panel, to cover the ends o1c a Vof Vthe inter-fitting similar cross strip. on the shorter panels, or thebox ends.` Cross strips 23 and 27 may beY stitched by wires to small pieces or'v stock to build up a closed panel or a crate side.,

Short panels 30 are shown in Fig. 7 which indicates the inner sideof the rear wall (as viewed in Fig.. 1)' and in Fig. 6. which indicatesthe outer side of the front wall.4 Each is. formed likey the side panelswith bottom cross sti" 3.31 and top cross strip After the long side panels. are positioned the short side panels are similarly placed in position, the. slightly projecting `ends of toplcrossstrips 32 slightly spreadi'ngrthe panels out# Wardly from normal position. `The rigidity parts holds `the panels in normal position, but, they may be ordinarily iiree torbe sprung'outwardly. The projecting endsof cross` strips 32 andv27V (see Fig. 9) positively prevent either panel being forced inward-ly.

In orde-r positively to position the panels against outward movement a locking means may be provided. In the present instance this isf made of cheap, simple and generally ineiiicient construction. because its useful effect is but a temporary one when the box is usedzin connection with a cover similar to that shown in the illustration.. However, the same lcorner holding construction could be made more permanent inv character, yor be altered in form for other purposes. n I l Onthe end panels I provide an l-' -shaped hook 3,3, mounted by a pin, rivet or screw 34 to turn thereon. The long panel 32 is slotted as at 35. to receive the hook edgewise. Each corner may have a locking means.

or closure may be used, but I prefer to use one of certain structure which makes the complete box capable of assembly without a tool. The box which is shown in the drawings is constructed of light weight material and the panels are somewhat resilient, that is, with the corners fixed, the sides may be slightly tlexe'dv inwardly away from the normal position. I provide a cover which has a cap construction capable of fitting over the boxart the box top, dened by a frame comprising the top cross-strips 32 and 27 of the panels f The cover has a rectangular frame formed of members 40,41, 42 and 43 covered by a vclosure of boards 44.. Two opposite frame members have'V each an inwardlyfprojecting rib 45 at a central portion thereof, but not at theends, which ribV is adaptedv to vfit under the top cross-strips 32 and/or 27 to lock the cover onto the box. The rib is bevelled at 46' to provide a cam for flexing the panels inwardl'y to place the cover into its self-locking position.

Because wood is by far the m'ost common material used for boxes, and because of the character of machinery used for operations on woodf, it willV be observed that the functionalparts of the `boxherein described are shown in elongatedform vfrom corner to corner of the box. Suchextent oi functional surface or construction is preferable for vstrength and rigidity, but it is obviously unnecessary, and much ofthe disclosed parts might beeliminated and many made discontinuous,v 'or the relative locations may be changed, without departure from the spirit and scope'oi` the invention. For example:

The strips 21', 16` 21 and 15 form a frame, which has no essential function as` a frame. For each-panel' two spaced portionsoi' each strip only are necessary. K These may be combinedias cornerV pie.ces,'thus eliminating the centralportionof each of the frame members.

The perimetric recess`17 shown inside the frame receives andretains the 4panel strips like 31'by the action of rib 22. The functional parts are the hook structure Jformed by the rib 22 with the recess 17 and an upwardly facing` surface onthe panel to be engigedby the hook, as is formed by the strip crate, or other structure the boards which form the bottom of the closed 'box may be omitted and anV open structure provided. using, for example, the two end boards of which the illustrated bottom is composed. Each of these functions at its ends. as stop means against inward motion of the long panel, and at its edge as a; similar meansfor a short panel.

. lit will be understood that vthe sides,ftop and bottom Ina-ybeopento forni a crate, or maybe-formed of screening paper,y fiber board or otherwise constructed without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention. The locking means at the cornersv may be readily dispensed with, as the cover itself will positively prevent any outward displacement of the box sides. Although the cover is not active for this purpose while the box is being packed, the box sides may be fixed against such outward motion in packing by placing the box in a vice, a form, or a trame until the cover is placed in position.

rIhe invention is not limited to side walls which lex inwardly to permit placing the cover in position, for it is possible to make the side retaining frame members oi the cover the flexible parts, or to make them rigid, and provide a different and resilient rib or structure to function like rib 45 when the cover is fixed on the box.

The invention contemplated by this application is generally the whole box including cover which can be assembled without a tool, and more specifically, the open box (without cover) which' may be assembled without a tool, as well as the novel box bottom itself, the novel panels, andthe novel structure and relation existing. between each panel and the bottom.

1What I claim is:

l. A box-like structure having component parts assembled into self-holding form, comprising a base providing a bottom torthe box, vertical upright means secured to said base providing a recess bounded laterally by a portion of the base and the upright means and bounded vertically by a' portion of the base and the upright means, and panels which form the box sides, each panel having thereon outwardly projectingmeans for cooperation with the upright means to hold the panel in position to form the box, said panel and the projecting means thereon being adapted when tted intov position to have the projecting means and a portion of the panel located in said recess. j Y

2. A box-like structure having component parts assembled into self-holding form, comprising a base providing a bottom for the box, vertical upright means secured to said base providing a recess bounded laterally by a portion of the base and the upright means and bounded vertically by a portion ot the base and the upright means. panels which form the box sides, each panel having thereon outwardly projecting means for cooperation with the upright means to hold the panel in position to form the box, said panel and the projecting means thereon being adapted when itted into position to have the projecting means and a portion of the panel located in said recess, and means to hold the panels together against swinging motion about the line ot the coacting parts. A

3. A box-like structure having Acomponent parts assembled into self-holding form` comprising a base, providing the bottom, panels for forming the sides, said panels being locatedflaterally of and about the bottom, a projection horizontally on the outside of each panel near thebottom thereof, and means secured to the base extending outwardly, upwardly and inwardly as a hook over said projection to secure each panel against vertical motion. :V f

In a box-likestructure having` component parts assembled into self-holding form, av base structure comprising a'bottom member, hooked means carried by said member extending from a point below the top level of the'base-to a point beyond the bounds of the Lbase, upwardly therefrom, and then inwarding meansadapted to hold it tothe bottom of the box, two panels being located in the box between the two other panels, and means on the outside of said first two panels extending bevond the width of said panels and overlying the edges of the other two panels.

` 7. In a box-like kstructure having component parts assembled into a self-holding form` comprising a bottom member, panels forming sidewalls, cooperating means contained within the inner and outer peripheral contines of the box one part being on the Y bottom member and one part being on each panel vfor holding the panel vertically and horizontally immovable with respect to the bottom member, yet permitting inwardswinging movement of the top of each panel into the box, whereby the cooperating means become disengaged to permit withdrawal of j the panel along the plane thereof at an angle to the bottom, and means on the panels holding each panel against such inward swinging of the panel.

8. In a box-like structure having componparts assembled into a self-holding form, comprising a bottom member, panels `forming side walls, cooperating means, contained within the inner and outer peripheral conlines of the box one part being on the bottom member and one part being on each panel for belding the panel vertically and horizontally immovable with respect to the bottom 'memben yetv permitting inward swinging movement of the top of each panel into the box, whereby the cooperating. means become disengaged to permit withdrawal of the panel f my along the plane thereof at an ang-le Vto the bottom, `and strips paralleling and adjacent the top edgesof each panel projecting beyond the panel forming members of a frame about said: panels. v

9:, In `a box-like structure, a boX bottom, a panel,l and cooperating means on the panel and the bottom for mounting the panel vertically and horizontally immovable relative to .the bottom, said means comprising a retainer carried by the bottom bey-ond the bottom providing a yspace' between the retainerf and' the bottom,` and providing an inwardly e extending hook-structure, said panel being adapted in form to lit into said recess and presenting an upwardly facing surface for engagement by the hook.

f 10; In a box-like structure having oomponent parts assembled into self-holding form, a base strueture comprising a rigid frame having narrow frame members, with a recess on the inner side of each frame member, skid-like members onone faceV of the frame as a support for the structure, stop means carried by said skids and located inwardly of the frame opposite a recess for cooperation therewith to hold other parts of the structure. Inv testimony whereof I have hereunto af# fixed my signature.

VALTER G. SEABOLD; SR.' 

